The members and partners of ARSA believe that students living in rural parts of our state are as entitled to quality education as those living in our largest metropolitan areas. Communities, particularly rural communities, display the unique differentiators and diverse cultures of their residents, and each community school reflects its diversity. However, there are common educational needs applicable to all effective rural schools.
Why Join ARSA?
Many Arizona educators and administrators in small and rural school districts feel that in the enactment of educational policies their special concerns are overlooked. They also find it difficult to share resources and valuable information due to geographical or isolated circumstances. Arizona Rural Schools Association provides just such a forum for sharing useful information and collaborating on successful solutions to the unique challenges of rural education. ARSA allows small and rural schools to speak with one voice about their concerns.
Member Benefits
In order to help achieve our goals of equal opportunity education for all students, we provide ARSA members with:
- Strong advocacy at legislative levels for their unique needs and concerns
- Annual conference to address Arizona rural school needs
- A voice to National Legislature as a State Affiliate of NREA
- ARSA Newsletter
- An informal job service available to all rural districts to assist you in finding teaching, administrative, and other staff
- Annual Rural Teacher of the Year program recognizing excellence
- A Hall of Fame to honor educators and others who have greatly contributed to rural education
- Research and other informational resources of particular interest
- Opportunities to share and network in areas of interest, regionally and statewide
- Liaison with numerous allied and affiliated organizations including NREA
- Regular updates throughout the legislative session as issues develop
- Professional Leadership growth opportunities